Day 19 of riding a bicycle

Well today is officially my 19th day riding a bicycle. It has started to become a way of life and i think it takes 21days days to make a habit so I am almost there.

In celebration here are 10 discoveries from riding my lovely bicycle.
1. Riding a bicycle gives you a completely new perspective on travel and of a city, especially of London.
2. Certain streets have certain smells and when you are riding you can smell all sorts of aromas including all different types of cooking.
3. People park in cars in all sorts of places to do secret or hidden things.
4. There is nothing like the joy of riding down a hill all too quickly.
5. Workers rushing to buildings makes an interesting visual tapestry.
6. Riding isn't as scary as I imagined.
7. London is smaller by bicycle, bigger by tube and even bigger by bus.
8. The best way travel from college is to cycle home with other student and stop half way for half a pint of cider overlooking a garden and then continue home.
9. Having a basket on your bike just makes your whole life better.
10. The subtle winds can completely change your day.

another inspiration - video

what a film, i really like the music as well which is by Oren Lavie - he has also has a really interesting take on making the 2096 photos it took to make the film into an exhibition. Interesting way to make the whole piece art. Check it out here

inspiration via video

loving this video discovered via Sweet as a loon bird blog of EFFI BREAST

tooting the tote

well this is the planning for a while, but I am loving my new totes. Hand printed by me I have already kidnapped one to use as a carry-all for my bicycle pannier. For sale in the shop from today and soon to come in all sorts shapes sizes.

kooky animation to share

Forest from Guernica Magazine on Vimeo.

crazy, kooky, colourful and a visual feast I think it is worth the precious minutes of life to watch

once again thanks to Katie Armstrong!

from the brilliant Keri Smith's blog

this is from Keri Smith and her great blog Wish jar - well worth a visit!

finding life hard

Finding it all bit a hard really, yesterday sucked the life out of me. My day job drained all my energy, happiness and joy and I came home tired, sad and overwhelmed. The boy worked hard and trying to help me pick up the pieces and we had a night of take away, trashy television and a bottle wine so went bed satisfied and cheery from our silliness together. But it has left a shadow and even though I have all these wonderful things in 2/3 of my life around the day job, sometimes it just is horrible. I have no answers and I get super frustrated as it is a place I have visited over the years on many occasions.

bicycle made for fun

Well I have a new love my Pashley bicycle. I am now riding to and from work and having a ball. It is the most beautiful bicycle and super easy and fun to ride. I would never imagined me saying that. Due to new form of transportation I am inspired by London once more with all the new discoveries by pedal power (snapshot from weekend adventure above).

This bike is giving me so much joy it is almost illegal. I always dreamed of riding to my own business in Sydney on a bicycle with a basket. Well I haven't made the Sydney and business part happen but now I have the bicycle with basket. So officially one part of the dream has come true.

Sadly I have realised I am not on the tube to do my sketches that have inspired much of my sketchbooks in the last 12 months, it is weird when you realise making a dream happen costs you something. The boy has suggested that I ride tube occasionally to make art, but I am taking it as a sign right now and really how can I imagine riding the bicycle in the shitty wet months of January. So I am sure there will be tube time all too soon.

So I am making the most of the bicycle and how it brings me so much joy just like when i was a child and first learnt to ride a bike!

xxx

a brilliant animation about personal space

my day from eamonn o neill on Vimeo.

Thanks to Katie Armstrong's blog I discovered this fab animation about personal space.

xx

the difference between doing and thinking about it

the last 6 days have been a staycation, actually they have been a making and working holiday. Spending all possible moments working on my etsy store and Splendidly Imperfect World creations except for adventures to see friends and the gym. 6 days of working at being and living my creative dream. It has been so different to my imagined version of it. On reflection I have been struck by the difference between doing and thinking about it. I had for many years imagined what it would be like to make my splendidly imperfect creations and it was a joyous event full of fun and laughter and creation. In reality it was a lot more like work.

Read between the lines I have between procrastinating a tremendous amount so it had been built up a lot in my head!

The adventure of following my dreams is scary, putting something out into the world and waiting to see what happens is confronting. This is escpecially so when i have been thinking, planning, dreaming and hatching for 5 years. OUCH reality hurts! Oh it would all be so wonderful and secretly I hoped that magically it would unfold all too easily.

Thank goodness I have had the sanity and wisdom of my friends of whom many are going after their dreams. So when I start to discuss it they understand. I am also super lucky that the boy has propped me up when i was ready to fall over with the fear and insecurity and my thinking that gets in the way. So reduce the hurdle of my thinking and to be more about the doing I am going to give this dream 12months without making any decisions. Spending at least 1 hour per day working towards making it happen. This doesn't mean I won't falter, or hate it or love it or do more is just not an option to evaluate. I am way too good at evaluating options and double guessing myself (also good at running away in realtion to things I really care about).

Part of me wants to kick myself for not doing this sooner but I know that it won't help and I am working practicing kindness to self. The worst case scenario is I find out that it isn't something to pursure and the good thing is I will never die wondering. I am seriously investing in doing, not thinking and fingers crossed only good can come from this.

ps. For all those going after creative dreams of one shape or another Hugh MacLeod is a wonderful writer and philosopher about these pursuits he even gives great reality checks which i find somewhat comforting. He made me laugh out loud which I always apprecitate. Check out his website Gaping Void and his book 'Ignore Everybody'.

working for the girl

Been busy working for the girl. Creating items for my online adventure to share my Splendidly Imperfect Girl with the world via my etsy shop and blog. I thought it would be super easy and everything fall into place if it was meant to happen. It isn't really happening like that. But I am giving it my whole heart giving it a go with the best of my knowledge and at least I will know if it is meant to be. It will stop me from wondering in the future if it would have worked.

My newest creations are on this old fashioned luggage tags which are part of my new love, easy obtainable democratic art on stationary objects treasured or used at will.


I have a batch of mugs in the oven, I can't wait for them to be complete. And if nothing else I am learning so much about moderating the ups and downs of dreams, and making them happen. My mission has always been about learning and growing and I am certainly doing that.